Report: Rob Gronkowski May Need Another Surgery

The summer of 2012 was known as the “Summer of Gronk.” Summer of 2013… Rob Gronkowski might remember this summer as “The Summer of Setbacks.”

According to the Boston Herald, Gronkowski may need a fourth surgery on his forearm to cure an infection:

Gronkowski, agent Drew Rosenhaus, team officials, both team physicians and outside consultants are expected to meet within a week to make a determination of what step will be taken next and how quickly to move. All are hopeful the pesky infection has been cured but they cannot be sure until the surgery to remove the old plate and the process to replace it begins.

This all started back in Week 11 when he originally broke his forearm on an extra point against the Indianapolis Colts. It was expected that Gronk would return to action back in Week 14, however he was out the next five weeks and played in a limited role against the Miami Dolphins in the season finale.

Gronk and the Patriots then had a bye week entering the postseason, which certainly was beneficial to everyone, especially Gronkowski.

In the first quarter of the AFC divisional playoff round against the Houston Texans, Gronk broke his forearm yet again—instead this was a new break, right above where the original break was sustained a few months prior.

In the following weeks, Gronk has been not only rehabbing his broken forearm, but he’s been dealing with a nagging infection that just won’t go away, despite the help of antibiotics.

If Gronkowski does go in for a fourth surgery, then he’ll have to yet again rehab his forearm and could ultimately put his Week 1 status in jeopardy.

This is definitely not the offseason that Gronkowski or the New England Patriots were hoping for.

If for some unlikely reason Gronkowski misses the start of the 2013 NFL season, the Patriots have options like Jake Ballard and Michael Hoomanawanui on the roster – although neither bring anything close to what Gronkowski can.

7 Responses to “Report: Rob Gronkowski May Need Another Surgery”

This could be bad, Gronk provided the blocking threat that made 2TE work so well. None of the other TE’s on the roster are blockers, and no one will waste cover assets on an OL lining up at TE to block.

Gronk will be fine, if it’s 1 or 2 games it makes no difference to me. I have a feeling that this will be the Year for the Pats, The Sea chickens and the 49ers have all the heat on them. The Pats can fly under the radar if that’s even possible for the Pats.